Journey to Chicagoland and points south! Winter into Spring 2016!

  
Wayne Bosshardt enjoying the chocolate birthday cake, Dr Diane Powers brought as a surprise to the Chestnut Lodge here in Deerfield Illinois for my 69th winter celebration. 


 Found a disc golf course just 15 min east of the Chestnut Lodge, and JanMarie was game to try her first time playing.  She took this snap shot of me with a pink Ice Bowl Disc from the St Paul Winter Carnival event I played this year...9 holes and a bit wet as the earth is now warming for the spring.

 
JanMarie kept wanting to visit the "Ocean" being a California Native.  Here she is at a township park on Lake Michigan.  Elder Lane Park.

 

Our host Terrie is from Wilmette and suggested we check out the Bahai Temple right on the lake. So here it is! 

 
And here is JanMarie leaving the Bahai temple after hearing a few jokes from the welcoming group at the door.  Fun to have JanMarie as a travel companion and co body work facilitator on the first leg of my trip.  She flew back from O'Hare this AM.

Paul Family Jefferson Township William and son Johan George Paul emigration from Fellingshausen Hesse Germany to Whitfield, Jefferson Twp, Mongomery Co OH

 This past week, a friend, by the name of Stuart on Facebook, was interested in my genealogy as he wrote on his page "Stuart Federhart Holland  "Tell me about your Paul cousins. My grandmother's maiden name was Paul."

I have been scanning my grandfather, Noah Elwood Weaver's 1909 - 1916 album, and carefully working to label each page the best I can.  Fortunately back in 1973, when NEW died, I went down the street in West Carrollton and introduced myself to a Paul cousin, not knowing much about the Paul family history.  I did here from my father, Paul Henry Weaver, that his name came from his parents honoring the Paul side of the family and Henry is a common name in the German family tradition.  In the old country Heinrich, was Anglicized into Henry when they reached the shore of Turtle Island, North America. Emma Paul Grossnickle the daughter of John Paul, and granddaughter Amelia Louisa "Mary" Brandt who married George Paul, who had a shoe shop in Whitfield, Jefferson Twp  and as it has been told, when Mary stepped off the train at Whitfield direct from Germany she met her future husband there. From the German Bible of Emma Paul "Grandma Mary Paul, Born March 26 1824 Krankenhagen Germany. She came to America in 1847 married George Paul June 5th 1848. " 

George Paul died in June of 1870, and Mary stayed in the family farm house in Jefferson Twp, and some of the photos NEW took are from the site, both in front of the home and many around a large tree stump in the back yard. 
Esther Paul Grossnickle as I remember her around 1973, was born March 10, 1896 and was of the same generation as Noah Elwood Weaver my grandfather..Wanda was born in 1929 and Emma in 1927. 



Here is the summary, Esther wrote for me in 1973 that she transcribed from a Brandt relative who kept with Brandt- Paul bible.  Note she writes "Amelia Louise (Brandt) married George Paul, to this union 11 children were born.  From research done by my cousin Jeannette Allen Weaver, William Paul born in 1788 Fellingshausen, Hesse, Germany married 16 Mar 1820 to Elizabeth Bender, and come to Ohio where he died in Feb 1870 - In addition to George he had 7 other children.



CA 1905, and labeled by Jeannette Allen Weaver, "Mary" Amelia Brandt the matriarch who immigrated from Germany to Ohio in 1847, my last ancestor to do so, that I am aware of. Surrounding her at the farm are the 8 surviving children.  John is the father of Emma Paul Grossnickle, and Emma Helena front right married Henry Eicher, whose daughter Edna Eicher married Noah Elwood Weaver my grandfather in 1909. Sarah married Levi Eshbaugh whose daughter Ida, married David Elwood Allen, Jeannette Weaver's grandfather. 


 
1911, from NEWeaver album, Paul Henry Weaver, just over a year old, with with his dad; NEW driving with Helena "Lane" Paul Eicher, in the shadows next to the woman in white. 



1909 Paul Family farmhouse, Jefferson Twp, with Mary Paul seated Edna Eicher Weaver just to her right in white....p14 1909-1916 NEW Black album.

 1914, Eliza, John,  Emma Helena, Mary "Molly), Christina "Tina", Sarah and Amelia. By the tree stump in the back of the farm.

Paul Farm Tree Stump photo CA 1905, Noah Elwood Weaver sitting left front, Edna Helena Eicher, middle back standing - Noah Elwood Weaver and Edna H Eicher married in 1909.

Josephine "Phinie" Brandt and Hans Hansen, who married in 1891, year of their marriage - Phinie was born in Dayton OH 13 Jun 1866, daughter of Heinrich August Brandt and Mary Catherine Fike - Heinrich's younger sister, Amelia "Mary"Brandt emigrated to Ohio, in 1847 and married George Paul in 1848.   George  operated a cobbler, shoe shop in Whitfield, where the train stopped - George died in 1870 at age 45, and Mary lived at the farm until June 1911, some 41 year later.  Their third daughter, Emelina Helena Paul,  of 11 children, born in 1856, married Henry Eicher and was my great grand mother.

Natural History - Photos of the Greater Miami and Little Miami of Ohio around 1913

Noah Elwood took such a variety of photos as I scan his many albums.  In the album I am currently scanning I have entitled 1909-1916 N Elwood -Farms Montgomery Co, Indian Lake,  Logan Co, and Fort Ancient, Warren Co.p 28 Black album.

 Three men in a canoe. No location given.

 p 29, Shows bamboo poles over a canal, with Edna Eicher Weaver,  likely Hattie Weaver, Paul Henry, and Henry Eicher, in what appears to be the "Hydrolic" a canal just to the east of the town of West Carrollton in the Greater Miami River Valley


 Discovered a book, A Boy's Town, by W D Howells , Harper, 1890, in my father's collection, with Esther Eicher, label "Alexanderville Ohio", that is centered on town on the greater Miami River .
Found a bio of William Dean Howells, on Wiki "was born on March 1, 1837, in Martinsville, Ohio (now known as Martins Ferry, Ohio), to William Cooper, and Mary Dean, Howells.^[1] He was the second of eight children. His father was a newspaper editor and printer, who moved frequently around Ohio. In 1840, the family settled in Hamilton, Ohio, where William Cooper Howells oversaw a Whig newspaper and followed Swedenborgianism;^[3] their nine years there marked the longest they would stay in one place.^[2] Though the family had to live frugally, the young Howells was encouraged by his parents in his literary interests.^[4] Howells began to help his father with typesetting and printing work at an early age, a job known at the time as a printer's devil. In 1852, his father arranged to have one of Howells' poems published in the Ohio State Journal without telling him.

 1913 Car on a muddy road.

 This appears to be the same car, with the American flag- the woman in front right appears to be Noah Elwoods mom, Hattie Weaver...

 

Two couples picnic near sand dunes/,  Paul Henry Weaver in front p 24

 Two couples with Paul Henry Weaver, Little Miami River, Warren County with Little Miami River Noah Elwood center with Edna E Weaver with her son...p 21

. 1913 Indian Lake Swimming Area and Bathhouse  from wiki "ndian Lake
In its original form, Indian Lake was a conglomeration of shallow natural lakes and marshes covering 640 acres in the northwest corner of Logan County. A bulkhead was built on the Great Miami River in the 1850s to enlarge and deepen the lake area to create a water supply for the new Miami Canal. The work was completed in 1860 and the resulting Lewistown Reservoir covered more than 6,000 acres with 29 miles of shoreline. At the turn of the century, railroads had come into vogue and the canals were abandoned for more efficient transportation. No longer needed for canal commerce, Lewistown Reservoir was designated by the Ohio General Assembly in 1898 as a public recreation area known by its historic name, Indian Lake. Indian Lake quickly became a popular resort area with its numerous islands and untamed shoreline touted as a secluded wilderness paradise offering supreme hunting, shooting and relaxation.
In the early 1900s, Indian Lake became a leading destination to exercise the intellect as well as the body. The traveling Chautauqua Assemblies that swept the East and Midwest came to Indian Lake’s Orchard Island starting in 1910. These variety shows featured lectures and programs by a diverse roster of speakers and entertainers, including some famous and prominent figures such as the great orator William Jennings Bryant. Chautauqua drew such large crowds that a hotel and cottages were built on the island to accommodate out-of-town guests for the two-week gatherings in late July and early August. The village of Lakeview became a regularly scheduled stop in 1911 on the Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad, and the Ohio Electric Line provided service to the burgeoning lakeside community known as Russells Point. The rail lines provided easy access to rural Indian Lake park from Lima, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities."

 1913 Men at an artisan well.  Curious if middle men is Harley Peffley and I know William Weaver, NEW's farming brother is on the right.

To in ID's I am adding this photo from the Paul Farm we figured was around 1905, with "Mary" Paul the matriarch in the front center. Harley Peffley, son of Mary E Paul, was 23 in 1905 and had married Cora Weidner who would have been 22 that year.  This appears to be a NEW Paul family cousins  photo.

 CA 1914,  Curious if this could be Harley and Cora Peffley now in there young 30's with Edna (in deeper water to appear shorter :-) & Noah Elwood now each 28 and Paul Henry Weaver 3 1/2?

 Noah Elwood ready to dive at Indian Lake

1909 -1910 Rural Small Town of West Carrollton - Homes -Picnics though NEW's Camera Lens

p 9 of Noah Elwood Weaver's black album 1909-1916, finds a new construction home I sense is in the town of West Carrollton and the baby to the his right, of Noah Elwood, 5th from the left might be recent proud grandparents of the infant dressed in typical baby garb of the time.  No labels and hope folks like Sarah and Jerry Allison of the WCHS, might find out where this home is, to celebrate a centennial of this kind of home being built around where Noah Elwood and his soon to be bride (the tall woman some 4-5 "taller to his left, is Edna H Eicher, a Julia Child of her times over 6 feet with her older sister, Emma Esther Eicher in the back right, was said to be 6'3"in her prime. When this album arrives at the Wright State Archives, I hope we can have a finders link to its location for others to find their relatives. 
 
p9 Detail of top photo with likely grandparents of a new infant, with Noah Elwood Weaver, next to his finance' Edna Eicher- The style of the hair bow of the woman in front reminded this writer of Princess Leia of the Star Wars Movie fantasy series some call a "block buster" created in Hollywood US of A in the later 20th Century.  Wonder what "block" of West Carrollton his home can be found on in the 21st Century.
 
p9 Second view of the group - Edna Eicher is now 5th from the left, and curious if the guy with the bow tie, who moved next to the infant might be the father? No real facts and having the ID of the house location, might lead to finding census data and names here.. The "Princess Leia" bow headed woman is still in front

 p9 Detail of group on porch of West Carrollton new home CA 1909 by NEW

 p 10 Five unidentified women dressed in CA1909-1910 comfortable attire. 

 
p 10 Family picnic near the banks of the Greater Miami, CA 1909 Edna Eicher 5th from left and Emma Esther Eicher 10th just to the right of the infant and stroller . Looks like after eating, if one looks at the shot below, with food more orderly :-)

 Detail of the picnic setting after eating?

 p11 Spread of picnic with melon fruit cut and bread sliced and glasses standing up. NEW 5th from left, EEEicher 9th just to the right of the infant - No other names yet. By Edna Eicher most likely

 p11 Detail of food Noah Elwood 3rd from Left, E Esther Eicher 7th next to infant reaching.

p11 Slumber sleep over party - 11 girls and likely Edna Eicher the 12th who took the photo. 

Detailed accounts from Miami & Jefferson Townships - West Carrollton - Miamisburg -Ellerton, rural Montgomery CO OHIO 1909 -1916 -

 One of my joys in the winter is to take in the photography of my ancestors in Ohio, as the spirit of the day is captured in these black and white photos.  I am working to archive some collection in Ohio. with Noah Elwood Weaver's collection being donated to Wright State University archives, and perhaps with the support of Billy William A Eicher, the nephew of Betty Ethel Elizabeth Eicher, to donate some of her Ohio year writings and photos with her partner from Franklin OH, Mary Parker Brown.  More shall be revealed.
 
Here is a studio photo of Charles Albert Eicher with his bride in 1910, from Miamisburg Minnie Mae Stupp, duaghter of William Stupp and Emma Emily Braun. Charles is the father of Betty Eicher b 1913 in Miamisburg and Billy Eicher, William H Eicher b 1927.

A Spring Series from the black album 1909-16.  Of a walk to the Eicher Farm...I sense from church in West Carrollton on a spring Sunday morning. 

 Noah Elwood Weaver 1909 likely photo taken by finance', Edna Helena Eicher Weaver, at the edge of the then George Eicher farmstead and apple orchard, Sect 14+15 Miami Twp just a little walk east of West Carrollton City then (now a suburban development near the high school and I 75) page 1 of black leather album

 George Eicher farm sect 15 flat field with fence line and apple trees with chimney of farm house behind.   P 2 of Black leather 1909-16 album

Hillside field panorama with Sunday clothes, Emma Esther Eicher, smiling 5th from Left, and NEW 10th from Left......Note the boy in the right enjoying a plant......Sunday walks look so refreshing eh?
Auf Deutsch, and I think a lot of the new immigrants from the mid 1800's still spoke German....wonder what these folks were thinking here in 1909? page 5 of black album

 

Here I count 15 in this woodland panorama with Edna Eicher and Noah Elwood Weaver at the far right.....Interesting variety of ecosystems and environments around the Eicher farm as I imagine this might be the same group on a walk in 1909.  Woods in sect 15.  page 5 of black album

 

Page 6, a group of ducks in the dry creek bed, perhaps from the Eicher Farm, Imagining the sound of quacking as NEW walks with his camera and sets up a tripod with curiosity for the group photos too.  

P 6 14 Sunday walkers, men, women and children still in Sunday clothes, dry creek bed with Edna Eicher on the right.  

p 4 Walk up the creek bed on south part of Eicher Farm sect 15, with 8 walkers in view. Note rail fence in background.  This is now in 2016 part of Cox Arboretum.   

P 7 George Eicher farm hill with woods, with three women, Edna Eicher CA 1909 on the right.

 
P 7 Noah Elwood Weaver far Left, with Edna Eicher with hand of flowers, flat part of Eicher Farm with 11 walkers counted here.  Looks like some bed rock formation.

 
P 8 The Eicher farm lane, looking north toward Dayton, with the group of walkers on the rutted farm road, CA 1909 by NEW

 
P 8, The final photo of this series at the Eicher farm in 1909.  11 walkers standing on what appears to be a small bridge on the farm lane. Looking south to see the farmstead. Edna Eicher 6th from Left and Emma Esther Eicher, 8th from the left , a tall woman about 6'2"standing behind the small bridge. by NEW 

Here from another album of NEW, CA 1920 when I image my father Paul Henry Weaver at age 10 traveling the country side with his dad and camera, seeing the landscape a Century ago ----Before he died he helped my label "Eicher farm - with tobacco shed' ( then managed by George,  son of Franz, who settled in Miami Twp around 1870 after getting married to Eva Margaret Bohlander (Boehlaender) in 1844 in Cincinnati to the south - 

 Notice the Eicher farm land in section 15, just a short 1 mile walk from West Carrollton and what back then was Alexandersville ---
View north from "George Eicher farm" with tobacco shed on the right - Dayton is about 7 miles north - in about 1920, by NEW p 31, Black Album

View NE from Eicher farm beyond Hole's Creek in the middle with tobacco shed along Alexandersville-Bellbrook Pike CA 1920 NEW p 31  

 CA 1920 Paul Henry Weaver (born 1910 with hat, ) and his grandpa, Henry Eicher in front (born 1845)with cousins from the Lender-Bohlander line, in Cincinnati - man in front ID'd by my dad in 1981 as "Arthur Pfau" who married Lydia Oberheu, the elder of the 3 sisters born and living in Cincinnati -  behind Arthur is the tall smiling Emma Esther Eicher and to the right, Helen Lourie, the daughter of Jennie Oberheu
 
CA 1922? (same pages, Jennie Oberheu Lourie, Lydia Oberheu Pfau with Edna Helena Eicher Weaver in a field -----

 Emma "Esther" Eicher  1875 - 1961  Miami Twp Montgomery Co OH, with her great Aunt, Emma Dorothy Lender Oberheu  1839 - d 1910 Cincinnati OH at the Cincinnati Zoo -- CA 1905?